The Heartland Institute

Included in President Barack Obama’s 2014 budget is a proposal to expand federally funded pre-K, to be paid for by raising the federal cigarette tax from $1.01 per pack to $1.95. Research on preschools has shown they have a limited positive effect on the very poorest and neediest children, and research on broader government ...

Absent Congressional action, several tax increases will go into effect at the end of the year. Allowing the 2001–03 tax cuts to expire, combined with tax increases under the Obama health care plan, what some critics are calling “Taxmageddon” would be a historic hike in tax rates across the board. One of the most significant ...

After raising the state’s personal income and corporate tax last year, Illinois is considering a $1 per pack hike in the state’s cigarette tax. Advocates claim the tax would help pay for ballooning Medicaid costs, which are over budget by $2.7 billion. Such an increase, however, fails to address the structural problems of the ...

Idaho House Revenue and Taxation Committee Chairman Dennis Lake (R-Blackfoot) says he wants to increase the state’s cigarette tax by $1.25 per pack, to help curb smoking and raise revenue. Proponents of higher taxes on cigarettes—such as the American Lung Association—assume higher cigarette taxes are good for a state. But although ...

The Safe Children’s Product Act , introduced by Michigan state Sen. Rebekah Warren (D-Ann Arbor), would require Michigan regulators to create a list of so-called “chemicals of concern” in children’s products and require importers and large manufacturers to disclose the presence of these chemicals in children’s products. In a press ...

This week was election week for lawmakers in Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, and Virginia. In Virginia power in the state senate for Republicans hinges on a slim 226 vote lead in the 17th district. Ballot initiatives in Ohio made national news as voters rejected the legislature’s law limiting collective bargaining while ...

At least eight states have implemented de facto regulations on chemicals they deem “hazardous” by creating “chemicals of concern” lists. Proponents claim the lists are necessary to protect consumers from potentially hazardous chemicals in products, and they argue a lack of federal regulations means states must step in. Opponents ...

Lawmakers in Oklahoma are saying tax reform involving the reduction of personal income tax rates will be one of the top priorities this upcoming legislative session. The proposal likely would eliminate hundreds of tax credits, deductions, and subsidies in exchange for a broad-based rate reduction. Proponents say the state is well ...

Wisconsin is considering a revenue neutral tax proposal that would change the tax structure for smokeless tobacco from an ad valorem tax to a weight-based tax. This would bring smokeless tobacco taxes in line with the way that other “sin” taxes on alcohol, cigarettes, and gas are applied. In The Heartland Institute’s testimony ...

State Rep. Mark Mustio (R) has introduced a bill that would prevent Pennsylvania’s Liquor Control Board (LCB) from increasing handling “fees” on alcohol without prior approval from the legislature and governor. Pennsylvania is one of 19 states that give monopoly control over the sale and distribution of liquor to the state. Proponents ...

Louisiana is considering a proposal for a significant tax hike on cigarettes, smoking tobacco, and smokeless tobacco products. Advocates for raising the tobacco tax contend that having the nation’s third-lowest cigarette tax doesn’t do enough to curb the use of these products. Although a higher tax rate might encourage some Louisianans ...

Current cable television franchise laws in Texas favor new video service providers over existing ones by not allowing existing service providers to enter into statewide franchises. Requiring providers to negotiate with every individual city or town is time-consuming and expensive, creating an unnecessary barrier to competition. Allowing ...

The Special Council on Tax Fairness for Georgians was established to conduct a study of the state’s revenue structure and make a report of its findings and recommendations for legislation. On March 28, after months of wrangling, the Joint Committee on Georgia Revenue Structure reintroduced a proposal to lower the state’s income ...

Georgia is one of only three states that prohibit the retail sale of liquor, wine, and beer on Sundays. This limitation on consumer choice costs the state’s coffers millions of dollars in tax revenues every year. Sunday is now the second-busiest shopping day, and consumers who can do so migrate to other states to shop. With ...

Congress is considering an increase in the airline passenger facility tax from $4.50 to $7.00 per takeoff and landing. In total this would be a massive $2 billion tax increase on consumers. The tax hike, which is being championed by airports and opposed by airlines, would seriously burden passengers and the airline industry ...

Maryland is once again considering a “dime a drink” increase in the state’s alcohol taxes. Proponents say it will bring in $215 million toward reducing the state’s budget deficit. Maryland already has hiked taxes on tobacco products, businesses, and high-income earners, yet the state continues to struggle to balance its books ...

Nebraska state Sen. Deb Fischer (R) of Valentine is proposing a law to phase out the municipal service occupation tax on telecommunication services and require voter approval before municipalities can impose higher telecommunication taxes. Reducing taxes and fees on telecom services encourages economic growth and helps open these ...

Idaho is expected to face a budget deficit in fiscal year 2012 of approximately $350 million. Idaho House Revenue and Taxation Committee Chairman Dennis Lake (R-Blackfoot) says he wants to increase the state’s cigarette tax by more than $1.50 per pack to help generate more revenue. Unfortunately for advocates of targeted “sin ...

Georgia state Rep. Ron Stephens (R-Savannah) wants to raise the state’s cigarette tax by a dollar per pack in order to help close the state’s $1.5 billion budget deficit. Smokers aren’t the only ones who should be worried about cigarette taxes, because all taxpayers will inevitably be tapped as a result of excessive spending ...

The current public outrage over bailouts, excessive spending, and a staggering national debt are helping fuel the push for a federal balanced budget amendment. Over the years, many renowned economists, including Nobel Laureates James Buchanan and Milton Friedman, have advocated such an amendment. The federal deficit for 2010 is ...